WARS, natural disasters and terrorist incidents - the 4,000 soldiers of 19 Light Brigade have their bags packed and are ready to go.

In January, the brigade and other units from 3 (UK) Division joined the Nato Response Force (NRF).

The brigade - which includes 1st Battalion the King's Regiment, the Prince of Wales' Own Regiment, the Queen's Royal Lancers and 1st Battalion the Royal Green Jackets - joins the British Army's first deployment with the rapid reaction force since its formation in 2002.

For the next five months, the brigade, based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, will be on high-alert, waiting for the call from Nato to got anywhere in the world at the drop of a hat.

Commanding officer, Brigadier Tim Evans said he and his troops were ready and waiting.

Duties his brigade could be asked to do include peacekeeping, rescuing Nato citizens from a war zone or providing disaster relief.

"Everything is in place and we're just waiting for the call," he said.

"The soldiers are up for it because it's something different. It will put the training they've had to very good use."

He added: "Excitement is probably too strong, but there's a certain amount of anticipation and, hopefully, expectation that we will be deployed on an operation.

"We have seen the response force used during Hurricane Katrina and the Pakistan earthquake, and this has just heightened that anticipation."

Until recently, the unit was a mechanised brigade, equipped with heavily armoured weaponry, such as the Challenger tank.

The tanks are now being replaced with armoured vehicles for the unit's new role as a light brigade.

This makes the brigade more agile, flexible and suitable for its temporary role with Nato.

Every member of the brigade has to be ready to go at short notice.

Each soldier will have their bergen, a large rucksack, packed.

The troops need to ensure their passport and next of kin details are up-to-date.

Even their dental health and inoculations have to be in order.

The NRF has to be able to sustain itself for 30 days without re-supply.

The brigade has huge stores of ammunition and food ready to be flown out with the troops.

The brigadier said his soldiers do not just sit in the barracks waiting for action.

He said they continue to train hard, while at the same time keeping an eye on breaking news just in case the top story is their first assignment.